THIEVES driving an Audi car have been targeting women carrying handbags across west London.

Three incidents have so far been recorded by both Ealing and Hillingdon police, with the same car and method of attack used on all three occasions.

The latest robbery occurred at midday on Wednesday, September 7, near Lammas Park, Ealing, where a 41-year-old woman was attacked.

She was walking with her elderly mother on Clovelly Road when a dark blue Audi pulled up and a man jumped out asking for directions. He punched her in the face and upper body. She fell to the floor and he kicked her repeatedly before pulling her handbag off her shoulder and driving off at speed.

A police spokesman said: "This was a terrifying vicious, violent, and unprovoked attack on an innocent member of the public. Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant, should contact us immediately."

The man is described as being between 30 and 40 years old, Asian, overweight, wearing dark blue trousers.

An Audi car, registration R929 M (or N) GO, has been seen at all three incidents.

On Saturday, September 3, Justyna Klich, of Alwyn Gardens, Acton, was punched and her handbag stolen by a tanned Polish-speaking man who also pulled up asking for directions in a dark blue or black Audi.

A similar attack occurred in Hayes last Friday, when a 75-year-old woman was punched and robbed of her handbag by a suspect described as Asian, with a big head, appearing to be overweight.

A police spokesman said: "There's growing trend this vehicle is involved in robberies across the borders. We are looking at crime trends, , to see if we can track who these people are so we can get them arrested and take them out of the equation."

Police on 0208 2469145